Answering Claudia's Post about Blogging

ME! And, yes, that's a good photo of me. I shaved my lip and chin hairs that day and put on makeup. I'm getting more wrinkles around the chin line. ;-( I've also included a few eye candy photos to "pretty up" the blog post today. :-)
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Update: At first I erroneously named the book by Jeffrey Deaver The Numbered Account. My mistake; it was called The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver. I have no clue why I called it that other than I'm a prolific reader of his novels. Sorry.
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Recently, Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage blogged about...well, blogs and the evolution and authenticity of them. I found it extremely interesting as she echoed some of my very own thoughts, and I'd like to expound on it with thoughts of my very own.

As with Claudia, my thoughts are on blogging frequently, and it is indeed a very personal thing. I also don't put much on here that would lead to someone stalking me as I've had that happen to me, and it's not something I wish to have repeated. [I've even seen blogs that have the house number and their last name on the front. Very easy to burglarize if they happen to post they'll be on vacation at a certain time. I know this because we've been burglarized twice in California and once here in Idaho. It will get worse. If you doubt me, just read The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver for a look into what the internet is becoming. It's an eye opener for me and the technology is there at this very moment for these things to happen.] I've tried finding my voice or own little niche for the 5 years I've been blogging. There have been times when I'd venture into different things but it just didn't feel like me. Hence, I went back and deleted every single one that didn't stay true to who I am. I have ended up just putting my thoughts on here many, many times. My very first post didn't even have photographs, but that changed very quickly as I love seeing photos. Photography has become a passion of mine, as has writing.

I don't journal, although our Church recommends it both for personal growth and a legacy for our children and grandchildren. I just could never get the hang of it because, mostly, it hurts to hold a pen and write. This is so very true for these old hands, plus my life isn't that interesting actually.


Giveaways also were a way to draw people. I'm like anyone and everyone else; I love people to visit. I tried different ways to attract viewers but gave up after realizing it wasn't for them especially, as much as it was a creative outlet for me. I joined just about any and every meme that came along but that didn't work for me and, again, wasn't true to who I am. I don't do swaps anymore unless I really, really feel like it, but I'm trying my best to get rid of 50 years of accumulation in this house; hence, I've only done one for the last 2 years. I don't particularly like them. I saw one blogger who only posts when she has a giveaway and has a very successful business in her area of crafting. I just can't do that. I won't do any giveaways anymore to draw people to my blog. I do them for the goodness it makes my heart feel and to truly make someone happy who, perhaps, has never won anything. But I wasn't even any good at that! One woman won a Christmas tree ornament I made that was truly lovely. I made three to see which ones I wanted to keep, so I tried to give away this Victorian one. It turned out beautiful. Well, I thought so anyway. I alerted her to the win a couple of times and never heard from her. I ended up sending it to a woman in Florida who was in my eBay group because I knew she'd love it. She did. This is that tree topper.

I have at the moment 1,035 blog posts with the very first several having been deleted by blogger because I suppose I've exceeded their limit. I've let trying to get more viewers NOT be my driving force for blogging. I do it for ME and only ME. As with Claudia, I'm a talker and love to write (type/keyboard) and share ideas and thoughts. And to write correctly. I'm sick to death of people trashing the English language the way it is today. I've yet to meet one young person who can articulate well and that's pathetic. I speak the way I write. Sometimes with a soft expletive thrown in, but I don't have a trashy mouth.

I also want my blog to be recognizable so I haven't changed it much. Nothing stymies me more than going to a blog I frequent and a whole new look stares me in the face. Usually, I'm not sure if I'm in the right place or not. Do as you please, but for me I'll not change much. And some posts will be long and some short; that's just the way it goes, chicks.


I shamefully lurk a lot also, Claudia, but I simply don't have the time to post at every single one I follow. Plus, some truly don't require a response and some others are ones for which I don't necessarily have a response. I love hearing from bloggers. I truly do. And I do try to hit everyone once in a while but I get so busy with other things I might not be able to. I've stopped viewing or following blogs that only do giveaways or blog mostly ads for things they sell. I don't do that; I have another blog for things I want to get rid of or sell. For me blogs are for regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, and graphics. Being somewhat OCD and a very visual person, ads, lots of blinkies or "fluff" and "sponsors" distract me quite a lot visually, so I don't visit them much, it at all. That is one reason I love Google Reader to peruse the blogs. You don't have to put up with all that distraction.

Having said all that, I truly don't see a time when I'll completely abandon blogging, but with all things, it has to end at some time. Also, who knows what the next social trend will be? I don't do Facebook except to see photos of my cute great grandchild, Caroline, and Twitter doesn't interest me at all. But someday there will be another thing that catches fire like mad and who knows; you just might see me over there. I'm a very young-at-heart old lady! And somewhat tech savvy also. I also hope you enjoyed the bit of eye candy I took with my Canon Rebel XS, Claudia. ;-)
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